Sheet folding machine



Sept. 23, 1958 J. P. JONES 2,853,293

SHEET FOLDING MACHINE 4 sheets sheet 1 Filed May 19, 1955 I JRJones INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Sept. 23, 1958 Filed May 19, 1955 J. P. JONES SHEET FOLDING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 J F. Jone INVENTOR {1 l I l a ATTORNEYS Sept. 23, 1958 J. P. JONES SHEET FOLDING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 19, 1955 A v N INVENTOR ATTORNEYS LI PJone$ Sept. 23, 1958 J. P. JONES 2,853,293

SHEET FOLDING MACHINE Filed May 19, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS United States Patent SHEET FOLDING MACHINE John 1. Jones, Oklahoma City, Okla.

Application May 19, 1955, Serial'No. 509,474

2- Claims. (Cl. 270 -79) machine wherein the length of the folds may be finely adjusted.

A further object of the invention is to provide a folding machine which will accommodate sheets of different widths and may be manually or otherwise operated.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a folding machine of this kind which is relatively-simple in construction and will accurately and carefully fold a sheet which is drawn from a supply roll.

- With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a folding machine constructed according to an embodiment of this invention.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, looking at the opposite end of the machine with the carriage at the opposite end of its movement.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section taken substantially on the line 33 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 4 is a transverse section taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a transverse section taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Fig. 6 showing the lower clamp or table in partly depressed position.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 9 is a transverse sectional view of the shuttle and guide.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary vertical section of series of folded sheets held between the upper and lower clamping members.

Fig. 11 is a perspective view looking from the bottom of one of the lower clamping members.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the numeral 15 designates generally a base frame structure which is formed of a lower horizontal plate 16 having upstanding integral end walls 17. The base plate 16 is formed with a longitudinal slot 18 extending therethrough which forms an inner bottom wall 19. The base member or plate 16 has secured to the opposite sides thereof'a pair of upstanding side plates 20 which are formed with upwardly converging edges 21 and an upstanding projection 22 extends from the apex of the upwardly converg- Patented Sept. 23, 1958 ing edges 21. Each side plate 21 has aifixed thereto a pair of track forming plates 23 and 24 which are spaced apart and formed so as to provide a shuttle operating cam track 25. This cam track 25 is formed with upwardly converging channels 26 which merge into an inverted V-shaped channel 27. The lower edges of the plates 23 and 24 are disposed above the upper edges of inner side plates 28 which are affixed to the inner sides of the side plates 20. The spacing between the plates 23, 24 and plate 28, indicated at 29, forms ahorizontal guide channel, the purpose for which will be hereinafter described.

A transversely arcuate receiver 30 is fixed between the projections 22, being substantially semicylindn'cal in transverse section and formed with a longitudinal slot 31 extending transversely of the machine. A supply roll supporting shaft 32 is adapted to seatin'an arcuate seat 33 formed in the upper ends of the projections 22 and the supply roll shaft 32 has secured thereto spacer washers 34, whereby the supply roll 35 may be endwise adjusted to provide for the feeding of the sheet downwardly through the slot 31. A shuttle, generally indicated at 36, ismovably disposed between the sides of the machine and is formed of spaced-apart parallel plates 37 which are fixed at their ends to end plates 38. The plates 37 are provided with spaced cut-outs 39, the purpose for which will be hereinafter described, and each of the end members 38 has a roller 40 mounted thereon which is movably engageable in the guide track 25.

A carriage generally indicated at 41, is movably carried by the base 15 and includes a pair of slide blocks 42 which are slidable in upper and lower pairs of longitudinal guides 43 and 44, respectively, which are fixed to the outer sides of the side members 20. A connecting bar 45 is loosely'engageable in the longitudinal slot 18 and the bar 45 has aflixed to its end thereof, vertical plates 46 which are also affixed to the lower portions of the slides 42. An outwardly projecting handle 47 is mounted on each plate 46, so that the carriage 41 may be manually moved lengthwise of the machine.

Shuttle 36 is rocked with the movement of the carriage 41 by means of outwardly projecting shuttle operating pins 48 which are carried by each end member 38 and project through the channel 29, and are loose in each slide block 42.

A pair of lower folded sheet supporting and clamping members, generally indicated at 50, are rockably disposed above the inner bottom wall 19, being rockably mounted on upstanding supporting plates 51 which are provided with horizontal base members 52 secured by fastening means 53 to the upper side of inner bottom 19. The outer ends of the clamping members are constantly urged upwardly by means of a pair of upwardly extending springs 54 which are secured by fastening means 55 to the upper side of the inner bottom 19. Each lower clamping member 50 is provided with an upper wall 56, with downwardly extending side flanges 57 anda horizontal track or guide 58 extends from the lower edge of each side flange 57. A clamping operating dog 59 is pivotally mounted as at 60 on the upper side of each side flange 57 with dog 59 inclined downwardly and inwardly and gravitatingly resting on the upper side of guide 58. Each slide block 42 has mounted in inwardly projecting position from the inner side thereof, a lower clamp operating roller 61 which is engageable with dog 59, on movement of the carriage 41 toward each end of the machine.

The roller 61 is adapted to ride over the upper end of dog 59 at the end of movement of carriage 41 in one direction, whereupon spring 54 will raise lower damping member 50 upwardly so that roller 61 will ride on the upper side of guide or horizontal flange 58,

Looking at Fig. 7, wherein roller 61 is riding upwardly over dog 59 when roller 61 overrides the upper end of dog 59, roller 61 will be disposed in the position shown at the left of Fig. 3 so that upon movement to the right of carriage 41 roller 61 will move beneath dog 59 and the latter will rock upwardly on pivot 60.

A plurality of upper sheet-clamping fingers 62 are fixedly s'ecuredto a horizontal shaft 63 which projects through the fingers 62 between the ends of the latter. Each finger is rockably mounted on a pivot 64 carried by a block 65 secured by fastening means 66 to the upper side of end wall 17. Each upper clamping finger 62 has affixed to the inner end thereof a sheet engaging plate 67, and the inner ends of fingers 62 with the pressure applying plates 67, are loosely engageable in the cut-outs 39. The fingers 62 are automatically raised upwardly by movement of the carriage 41 by means of a lever arm 68 which is fixed on a shaft 69, journalled horizontally through the end wall 17. The shaft 69 has afiixed adjacent each end thereof a short lever 70 which is connected by means of a shank 71 to the finger connecting shaft 63.

A pair of springs 72 are secured by fastening means 73 to the upper side of an end wall 17 and the springs 72 which are of a tension greater than the springs 54, engage connecting shaft 63 and constantly urge fingers 62 downwardly to a substantially horizontal position as shown in Figs. 6 and 10. Each slide block 42 has rockably secured to the outer side thereof a pair of downwardly and outwardly inclined dogs 74 which are adapted to be engaged by a roller 75, mounted on the inner side of finger operating lever 68. Roller 75 is adapted to ride upwardly and over an adjacent dog 74 and then to drop downwardly between the upper ends of the dogs 74, as the carriage 41 is moved in the opposite direction.

As shown in the drawings there is a finger operating lever 68 at the end of the machine with fingers 62 at each end of the machine so that each fold of the sheet will be clamped between adjacent upper and lower clamping members 50 and 62.

In the use and operation of this machine the rolled sheet is mounted on the spindle or shaft 32 and the leading end is then extended downwardly through the slot 31 of the receptacle or holder and extended into shuttle 36 with the leading end folded back beneath the free edge of shuttle 36. The carriage 41 may, as shown in Fig. 1, be initially moved forwardly, thereby rocking shuttle 36 at its lower end and pulling shuttle 36 forwardly to substantially a horizontal position with fingers 62 at the forward end projecting into the cut-outs 39. As the carriage 41 is pulled forwardly upper and lower sheet clamping members 50 and 62 are separated so that folded edge of sheet may be projected between the separated clamping members and 62. As carriage 41 moves to the extreme forward end of the machine which .is limited by means of stop members 76 adjustably carried by blocks77, fingers 62 are raised upwardly by engagement of the rollers 61 with the forward dogs 74.. .At the same time rollers 61 will engage dog 59 on each side of the forward lower clamping member 50, so as to depress thelower forward clamping member 50'.

At the extreme forward end of movement of carriage 41 roller will ride over forward dog 74 and lever arm 68 will be swung downwardly by tension of springs 72. At the same time roller 61-will drop off of the upper end of dog 59 and will engage horizontal guide flange 58.

Rearward movement of the carriage 41 will cause shuttle 36 to rise upwardly atits' inner edge in the guide track 25, while the lower edge of shuttle 36 is moving horizontally with pin 48 sliding horizontally in the horizontal guide channel 29. After the carriage 41 passes the longitudinal center of the machine shuttle 36 will be reversely rocked so that the lower end of shuttle 36 will be rearwardly disposed in a postion to extend the folded paper or flexible sheet between the rear clamping fingers 62 a nd the lower clamping member 50 at the rear of the machine. The cycle of opening and closing the rear clampmg fingers is the same as for the forward clamping members.

Each end wall 17 of base 15 has slidably disposed therein, a platform or support locking pin 80 having a knob 81 on its outer end. A spring 82 about pin 80 constantly urges pin 80 outwardly to released position. When the folded material is to be removed from the platforms 50 the locking pins 80 are pressed inwardly to engage over the lowered outer end of each platform 50.

What is claimed is:

l. A sheet folding machine comprising a base member, a carriage slidable lengthwise of said base member, upstanding sides carried by said base member, a handle for moving said carriage, a shuttle comprised of spaced apart parallel plates having cut out portions therein loosely disposed between said sides, means rockably connecting one end of said shuttle with said carriage, a shuttle reverting cam track carried by said sides, rollers carried by the other end of said shuttle engageable with the said cam tracks for reverting the latter upon lengthwise movement of said carriage in either direction, means feeding a sheet to said shuttle, opposed rockably disposed lower sheet clamping members carried by said base member at each end of the path of movement of said carriage, upper clamping fingers projecting into said cut out portions rockably mounted on said base above said lower clamping members, spring means normally biasing said lower clamping members toward clamping position, and cooperating clamp operating rollers carried by said base member and said carriage for rocking said lower clamping members to open position at the time said carriage is substantially disposed at the end of its movement in either direction.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein adjustable stop means are carried by said base limiting the lengthwise movement of said carriage.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 919,591 Kay et a1. Apr. 27, 1909 l,875,655 Rawson Sept. 6, 1932 2,098,427 Menschuer Nov. 9, 1937 2,572,289 Truslow et al. Oct. 23, 1951 2,615,712 Springer Oct. 28, 1952 

